Cambridge Rambling Club - Autumn 2008 Newsletter


Future Activities

29th August-5th September 2008. Lake District Week, Grasmere Butharlyp Y.H. We have 20 members staying at the hostel, with others staying in local B&B. There are 2 places available in female dormitory rooms, but as we have now paid the final bill, anyone wishing to take up these places should phone the Y.H. direct (0870 770 5836), quoting Cambridge Rambling Club. The full cost of £125.65  should be sent direct to the hostel.


10th-12th October 2008 Coach Weekend, Long Mynd, Shropshire.  2 single rooms (£173) and several twin/double places (£153) still available at the 3-star Long Mynd Hotel, Church Stretton for 2 days DB&B and fine long, medium and short walks! Coach leaves Cowley Rd, Cambridge at 2.00 p.m sharp. Please contact David (01223 811921) for further information and let David have car reg. number if parking in Cambridge.

SATURDAY 29th November 2008 Annual General Meeting. This year's meeting takes place on a Saturday commencing at 2.00 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane, Cambridge. Following the formalities and refreshments, we will be entertained by Tony Caldwell MBE, who will give us an illustrated talk 'Trekking in the Himalaya- Annapurna'. Tony has given several hundred talks over the past 25 years on his various travels, raising funds for Leukaemia Research. This promises to be a highly entertaining hour or so. We expect the proceedings to finish by 4.30 p.m. There are vacancies for up to three ordinary committee members, and we would welcome fresh and enthusiastic ideas to help run the club. Anyone interested please make this known at the AGM or if you would like to find out more about what the committee does then please contact John Pym.

10th December 2008: Wednesday 'A' Walkers Christmas Lunch. The lunch will again be held at the 'George & Dragon', Elsworth at 1.00 p.m. following a walk. Please give/send a deposit of £5 to Norman by 31st October. The cost is £17.50 per person, balance to be paid on the day.

27th-29th March 2009 Coach Weekend, Forest of Dean. The price for this fantastic weekend is £155, only slightly more than we paid in 2007! We still have plenty of space, but this is sure to go quickly, particularly as there is NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT. The coach will leave Ely at 10.15 a.m, Cambridge at 11 a.m. on Friday 27th March, returning late evening on Sunday. The cost includes D B&B on both nights Packed lunches available by request from the hotel, £4.50 per day. We are almost 60% full already, so early booking is recommended. There are a few single rooms available, to be allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Double and twin rooms are also available. Deposits of £30 to Chris payable to C R C please, to guarantee your place. Please send balance of £125 to Chris by the 31st January 2009. For those who have not been to Speech House Hotel before, please look at their website - you won't regret it!  http://www.thespeechhouse.co.uk/ Walk leaders for both A and C walks welcome - please contact Chris.


Late August/Early September 2009 We hope to organise another week in the Lake District. Further details in the next newsletter.

6th-8th November 2009: Coach Weekend, Cotswolds. By popular request we have arranged a 2 night stay at the Dumbleton Hall Hotel near Evesham. To accommodate those members who are working we will be leaving Cambridge at 6.00 p.m. on the Friday. This promises to be a popular trip to a beautiful area with walking to suit all grades. The cost for B&B for 2 nights plus Dinner on Saturday and coach is £140. Accommodation is in twin/double rooms but a few rooms will be allocated at a single supplement of £30. To secure a place, please send a cheque for £20 payable to C R C to John Pym. Early booking is recommended.


Hostel (& similar) Weekends


Hostel weekends are relatively informal affairs, with walks on Saturday and Sunday and overnight accommodation on Friday and Saturday. Trips a long way from Cambridge are often for 3 nights or more. ‘A’ walks are guaranteed, with around 6 hours walking; ‘B’ walks depend on a volunteer leader. Travel is normally in cars and we try to arrange car sharing. All bookings are handled by Jill Tuffnell, with cheques payable to ‘E G Tuffnell’. Please book well in advance as the full balance must be paid 8 weeks before the trip. If you can offer to drive or want a lift – please let Jill know. And you are very welcome to book your own B&B or hotel and join us on walks.

* Ludlow – the Bishop Mascall Centre: Friday 26th to Sunday 28th September, (2 nights)

2 single rooms available at this Centre in beautiful Ludlow town in Shropshire available. Our booking includes B&B on Friday night, and DB&B Saturday to Sunday morning. The cost for a single room is £70. Please bring a towel.


* North Downs – Palace Farm Hostel, Doddington, Kent: Friday 7th to Sunday 9th November, (2 nights)

Places still available at this independent hostel on a fruit farm in the beautiful North Downs, close to Leeds Castle and Sittingbourn. A light continental breakfast is included in the price, with good self-catering kitchen facilities available too. There is a pub within walking distance for an evening meal. The cost for the 2 nights is £36.


* Blaxhall YH near Snape, Suffolk coast, Friday 6th to Sunday 8th February 2009

We have sole use of this hostel - just £25 per person for the weekend. Self-catering and very comfortable, with nearby pubs in Snape village. ‘B’ leader wanted.


* Lincolnshire Wolds, near Louth, Friday 13th to Sunday 15th March 2009. We have booked in for 2 nights at Brook House Farm at Scramblesby close to the Viking Way. We have SOLE USE of this self-catering hostel for the weekend – a new area for the Club to walk. Cost £30 per person. There are 22 places available. See www.barnbreaks.co.uk


* Bala, north Wales – Bala Bunkhouse. Thursday 30th April to Monday 4th May 2009. We have reserved 14 beds at this comfortable self- catering bunkhouse just 1.5 miles from Bala, close to the beautiful Arenig, Aran and Berwyn hills. The cost is £58 for 4 nights, including bedding. Please send £20 deposit. We can book a further 6 beds if there is sufficient interest. See www.balabunkhouse.co.uk


* Backpacking trip to Yorkshire/Lancashire, Friday 22nd to Thursday 28th May 2009. The 2009 inter-hostel walk includes parts of the Calderdale, Bronte and Pennine Ways. 3 days light backpacking plus 2 day walks. Our trip starts near Hebden Bridge and includes 2 nights at comfortable Mankinholes YH, (self-catering plus nearby pub), a walk over to Haworth YH on Sunday (meals provided) for 2 nights, a walk to small Earby YH (self-catering), then a final night back at Mankinholes YH. It is possible to travel here by public transport. Glorious countryside and wonderful villages. We have booked 15 places. Please send Jill a deposit of £20 to reserve a place.


News and Notices

Wednesday 'C' News from Sheila You all came up trumps again; as no one declined my request for walk
leaders and even FOUR new members have decided to take the plunge! The AGM is being held as you will see IN THE DAYTIME on Saturday the 29th November at 2.p.m. at The Friends Meeting House. I will use Park and Ride and combine the outing with shopping!  So few "C" walkers have been in the past, but you have no excuse this time! As public house landlords really do appreciate some idea of the numbers coming to coffee; PLEASE try and telephone the leader before 7.p.m.on the Tuesday night before the walk.

"GO APE" To "celebrate" turning 80 in May, I went with family and friends in a party of 8 on the assault course high up in the trees at Thetford forest – hence Go Ape! Yes it was scary, Yes we had lots of laughs, and Yes I may do it
again! (My son has suggested a bungy jump for my 90th!)


Wednesday 'B' News from John Sadly I have to report the deaths of three of our former colleagues: Annelie Bartram on the 13th June aged 81; Barry Heaton also in June aged 84; and Monica Stokes on 10th July aged 85. Annelie and Barry had previously walked with the 'A's. All three will be sadly missed. We send our sincere condolences to their families.


The largest turnout for a Wednesday 'B' walk since the foot and mouth crisis was at Foxton on the 23rd April when 49 attended. Unfortunately it also proved to be one of the wettest!

Ailsa We send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Ailsa who was seriously injured whilst on a narrow boat holiday with her family. At the time of writing she is recovering at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, which is near to where her daughter lives.

Club Subscriptions The annual subscription of £4 is due on the 1st November and for those of you who have set up a standing order no further action is required, a programme will be sent to you in December. A number of members are still paying by cash which leads to problems with maintaining accurate records. Please set up a standing order; forms available from the Club’s website, Simon or through your Programme Secretary.

Archivist wanted. Unfortunately Audrey is unable to continue the role as the Club's archivist. We are therefore looking for a replacement. Anyone interested in maintaining the club's records please speak to John Pym.

Bargain Corner For sale: Nearly new Scarpa ladies' WALKING BOOTS size 42, too large for present owner! £50 ono. Also BACK CHAIR, ideal for paperwork sessions, good condition £50 ono.  Tel Rosey 01223 213305

Public Houses: Please remember that only drinks bought on pub premises are to be consumed in the pub or garden. Own drinks from flasks or similar are NOT to be consumed.

Committee Meeting. The next meeting is on Tuesday 18th November at the Wesley Church, King Street 7.30 p,m.

Next Newsletter. Any items of interest, including adverts, should be sent to John Pym by 25th November.